Dinner Plain Track Notes
Precipice Plain Walk
From Dinner Plain, the Dinner Plain Track starts at the
Great Alpine Road at the western boundary of the village. After about 1km a side track is available to Carmichael Falls via a 2km return walk. The falls are well worth
a visit with twin cascades plunging over a 25m basalt
cliff to the Precipice Creek below (for more information,
see Carmichael Falls track note).
The Dinner Plain Track follows the ridgeline of the Great
Dividing Range from Dinner Plain, beyond Precipice
Plain and down to Mayford Spur above the Dargo River.
The road reserve was widened after back-burning during the 2013 bushfires, creating a permanent firebreak.
The western edge of Precipice Plain drops almost vertically to a narrow valley below that joins the Dargo Valley.
Mt. Tabletop is directly opposite and there are sweeping
views of the Dargo catchment.
The Montane Track – another fine walking trail from Dinner Plain - parallels the road near Precipice Plain and
two access points are clearly marked, offering a return
option to Dinner Plain for walkers or bikers wishing to
complete a (much longer) trail loop (see Montane Walking Trail track notes)
Precipice Plain itself is on private land, surrounded by
the Alpine National Park to the west, State Forest to the
south and north and private land to the east. The freehold lot resulted from conditional purchase rights granted over crown land in 1926. It was originally part of a
large grazing lease taken out by Jens Petersen around
1865 that extended from JB Plain eastwards into the Victoria River catchment and downstream towards Cobungra. The land was purchased in the 1940s by Cobungra
Pastoral Station. Until it was destroyed in the 1939 fires
cattlemen used a log hut (pictured) on the Plain as shelter in bad weather or while mustering.
Image courtesy of Peter Robertson, Wildlife Profiles
9km return (3 hours), Grade 4 Walking Track
Walk or bike along the Dinner Plain 4WD Track though
Snow Gum woodlands and grassy plains to the rim of
high cliffs at the edge of Precipice Plain and overlooking Precipice Creek. Precipice Plain is a unique geological feature which lies 4km south of Dinner Plain. With its
spectacular outlook across the remote Dargo Valley, this
is a great place to enjoy sunset in the high country and
soak up fresh mountain air and cool breezes in summer.
White Lipped Snake and young.
Gold History
Overlooking the Upper Dargo River, this wild and trackless country was once a bustling goldfield, with a peak
population of 500. The field was rushed in the spring of
1863 after a party led by James Bloomfield discovered
gold in the upper reaches leading up to winter. Bloomfield tried to return to the field before winter had ended.
He was lost and never seen again. Several townships and
large mining camps existed, the principal of which were
Louisville, Brocket and Verdon. Every flat alongside the
river was occupied, by huts or workings. Miners worked
the river and adjacent banks for alluvial gold and a number of quartz reefs were also discovered. Stamp batteries
were erected at numerous reef workings.
Vegetation
On the rocky outcrops of Precipice Plain low growing
alpine grasses and herbs are the dominant vegetation.
From the edge of the Plain dead Alpine Ash trees cover
the valley below, a legacy of the 2003 and 2013 fires
which swept through the Alpine National Park. These
areas have been reseeded by helicopter to ensure their
future survival.
Precipice Plain Hut, circa 1920s.
Photographer, Austin Mehrens, courtesy Tanya Crisp (Petersen Family)
Dinner Plain Village
1300
Precipice Plain Walk
Grade of Walk:
Grade 4, as per The Australian Walking Track Grading System
1300
1300
the November Melbourne Cup Weekend to mid May.)
Be prepared with:
•
Wind and waterproof jackets
•
Warm clothing – hat, gloves, sunglasses, and strong footwear
•
Food and water
•
First aid kit and sunscreen
•
Map and compass
•
Check the weather forecast before departing
•
Let someone know where you
arewith
going
Room
a View
•
Mobile phone (reception in some
areas)
Walking
Track
Distance:
9km return
Time:3 hours
Gradient: Mostly level with some gradual steep sections on the entry and exit
Quality of Path: Mostly formed track, with some obstacles
Steps:Occasional steps
Experience required:
Some bushwalking experience recommended
00
13
1400
0
140
00
15
0
For more information on Dinner Plains Tracks & Trails, visit
www.visitdinnerplain.com.au.
150
00
0
14
A l pCaution
i ne
N a t i osnowgums,
nal
Bushfires have damaged
which are now reP ar k
generating but dead branches are shedding with the new
growth.
High wind days may result in falling limbs and
De
ad Tim
bIteis
r Hnot
branches.
to use
the track on windy
ill Wrecommended
alki ng Trac
Mon t a ne Loop
k
Pond
days. Please be aware that snakes
are active during warm
Forest Walks
months.
CRB Hut
trailhead
S t a t e
F o re s t
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T
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Slippery Pinch
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Mo
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a
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Tr a c
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lai
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CARMICHAEL
FALLS WALK
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ne
P
P R E C I P I C E P L A I N WA L K
Alpine National Park
State Forest
Freehold
on
in
Lightning Flat
14
R
F re e h o l d
Management
Gate
00
Magnetic North
1)
M
r
D
Cirque
00
15
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ct
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DINNER PLAIN
VILLAGE
ek
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t
i P
s
Carmichael
Falls
re
E
ec
Fitzy’s Cirque
1500
C
R
Pumice
Hill
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A l p i n e
N a ti o n al
P a r k
G
(S
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JB Plain
Hut
o
1km
2km
S CA LE
PRECIPICE
LOOKOUT
Updated Aug 2013
AJS
Dinner Plain Village - Alpine Shire
PLAIN
00
15
T R
A C K
1500
Seasonal
Gate
C
i
r P la i n T r a i l
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T r a ck
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Hoth a m - D i nne
Mo
Crisps Hut
n
nta
ing
io
NE R O A D
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lk
Wa
1400
1600
Dead
Timber
Hill
130
g r a
Be Prepared
The best months for walking in the alpine environment are
R i v
e r
from November
through to April, however, weather conditions can change rapidly, and snowfalls and blizzards can
occur at any time of the year. (The Bushwalking Season is from
F re e h o l d
S t a t e
F o r e s t